Over the past few years, Aubrey Plaza has become one of the most unique actresses working today. Plaza has consistently challenged herself with interesting and against-type roles, including her previous film at the Sundance Film Festival, Black Bear. In that film, Plaza adds layers of mystery to her character and a performance that is one of her best as Plaza returns to Sundance in 2022 in John Patton Ford’s Emily the Criminal. This film effectively places the mantel of a working-class Corleone family member in this highly engaging crime drama.

Emily the Criminal tells the story of Emily. She’s struggling to pay off debt while dealing with a troubled past. Because of her run-ins with the law and background, Emily finds it difficult to find a well-paying position that can assist in pushing through the everyday struggle of inflation in this country. So, after consistently interviewing for jobs that ultimately go nowhere, Emily begins working as a “personal shopper” for a fraud ring where she shops for high-value items with stolen credit cards.

Writer/Director Ford’s screenplay underlines the growing frustrations of the underclass and acts of desperation they are forced to when they feel there are no other options before crumbling to the massive weight of debt. It’s a story many are familiar with as debt is crippling many citizens in this country. Ford’s screenplay does a fine job of shedding light on different levels of a debt.

Aiding Ford’s screenplay is Aubrey Plaza’s magnetic performance. It’s an acting showcase throughout the film as Plaza shows why her star continues to rise with a menacing, cold take that allows for a level of bad-assery unseen by her before on-screen. She brings a subtle duality to Emily where she can emit a persona that is easily adaptable to the circumstances surrounding her. Plaza’s Emily rolls with the punches while still showing the flaws in her character.

While the vehicle behind the film is Emily, Theo Rossi takes a role as a cliched supporting character in these crime drama films. However, he brings some nuance and layers to his role that allow the audience to invest in his character. This allows Emily and Youcef’s chemistry to shine and provide stakes to their subtle and quiet moments in the film.

Is Emily the Criminal on the level of Heat? 

It’s not. However, it’s a film blended in real-life stakes and circumstances with the familiar crime drama tropes that lead to an engaging and entertaining film. Plaza’s performance, along with Ford’s screenplay, shows the film to be one of the highlights of the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and is sure to find an audience once it finds a home.